Close the Performance Gap with CIBSE TM54

Discussion across the industry is focussing on closing the performance gap between design intentions and real operational energy use. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has just issued new guidance on how to address operational energy use at the design stage. ‘TM54: Evaluating operational energy performance of buildings at the design stage' is now available from the online CIBSE Knowledge Portal.

David Cheshire, Lead Author, Regional Director of Sustainability, AECOM said: "The aim of the guidance is to enable designers to make better estimates of operational energy, identify the range of possible outcomes and therefore show how designs can be improved to deliver on the predictions."

The Technical Memorandum includes a preface in which Justin Snoxall, Head of the Business Group, British Land, explains that buildings account for nearly half of the UK's carbon emissions. As CIBSE Carbon Champion of the Year 2013, British Land is an exemplar company committed to increasing the performance of its buildings and has now reduced energy use across its London portfolio by 60%.The valuable insight into predicting energy use from TM54 can help dramatically reduce running costs and help minimise energy demand.

CIBSE is passionate about building performance and sharing knowledge and this guidance will prove a useful tool to reduce energy use. Those who are successful in helping to minimise the performance gap can gain recognition for their achievements by entering the CIBSE Building Performance Awards, and the CIBSE RIBA platform CarbonBuzz enables users to analyse and compare building energy use data from design inception through to operation.

CIBSE will celebrate the launch of this highly anticipated publication with a special briefing to members at Prince Philip House, London on 25th September. The event will also be broadcast to all as a webinar.

All CIBSE guidance is available free of charge to its members, or can be ordered by non members, via the CIBSE Knowledge Portal